A funeral was held in Montreal on Monday for former boxing champion Arturo Gatti. (Richard Drew/Associated Press)

Hundreds of Arturo Gatti's fans cheered his name as the late boxer's casket was carried out of a church in Montreal's Little Italy on Monday.

Friends and family paid their respects as questions continue to be raised as to how the former world champion boxer died.

About 1,000 mourners filed into Our Lady of Defence Church in Montreal's Little Italy for the funeral of the 37-year-old Montrealer.

Gatti was found dead more than a week ago in a northeastern Brazil apartment he was renting with his wife, Amanda Rodrigues, and their 10-month-old son.

Police have accused Rodrigues, 23, of strangling Gatti with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

Formal charges have yet to be laid. Police have until Wednesday to hand over their findings to prosecutors, who will then decide whether to file charges against Rodrigues, who maintains her innocence.

A Brazilian newspaper has reported that an autopsy revealed Gatti may have committed suicide because his body was found hanging. But the report also allegedly says that he could have been murdered, or that his death may have been an accident.

However, Gatti's friends and family strongly reject that Gatti would have taken his own life.

Gatti's brother-in-law, Rocco Crispoe, said there is no way he would commit suicide, since he was rich and had everything to live for.

"Why would he want to commit suicide? Multimillionaire, have everything to live for, nephews, brothers, sisters, just retired," Crispoe said.

'Like an insult to the family'

At the funeral on Monday, Gatti’s friend, Herby Whyne, dismissed any possibility that Gatti may have taken his own life.

“It's like an insult to the family, you know. For Arturo... who's gone into wars, you know, greater than himself, and got up off the floor, and got up. To think that he’d commit suicide, when he's on top of the world, it's unbelievable. I don't believe that at all."

Retired fighter Howard Grant also vehemently dismissed the suicide rumours.

"The only place Arturo would like to die is in the boxing ring," Grant said.

Thousands of Montrealers came out on Sunday during a visitation at the north-end funeral home to remember the boxer.

Friends, fans and family filed past the closed casket, over which rested one of the welterweight's world championship belts, a pair of white boxing gloves and a massive wreath spelling out his nickname — Thunder — in red flowers.

Gatti, who was born in Italy, grew up and learned to box in Montreal. He followed his older brother, Joe, to New Jersey to pursue a pro career.

Arturo won two title belts in a 16-year career than lasted until 2007, finishing with a record of 40-9, with 31 knockouts.

With files from The Associated Press